Customer Reviews

Lone Star Nation: The Epic Story of the Battle for Texas Independence

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A well-written history of the Texas Revolution and the events leading up to it. If you're already well-acquainted with Texas history, there's not much of anything new in this book, but H.W. Brands has an excellent eye for the telling detail and a good ear for the vivid quote that make the material feel fresh and lively.

What I especially liked about Brands' approach in this book is that he steers a commendable middle course between the traditional hagiography of flawlessly brave Texan heroes fighting evil Santa Anna for Liberty and the revisionist school of greedy white male slave-mongering mercenaries stealing poor Mexico's land. He shows both the strengths and warts of admittedly self-interested people on both sides of the fight who generally believed they were doing the right thing.

My main caveat for anyone who's well-read in early Texas history and is considering picking up this book for another perspective on the Texas Revolution would be that it takes 11 chapters and more than 250 pages of reviewing Texas colonial history (with the emphasis on Stephen F. Austin's colony) before the book finally reaches the actual outbreak of fighting. But, for someone who's relatively new to Texas history or could just use some brushing up on the subject, those 11 chapters do provide a surprisingly brisk and eminently readable account of Texas history from the first Spanish explorations up to the revolution.

Brands does a great job of weaving the lives of Austin, Santa Anna and others together in a compelling fashion. His vivid narrative style makes you forget you are reading history, but rather makes you feel you are sitting around a fireplace listening to a master storyteller perform his craft with grace and ease.

Brands, without being multicultural for multiculturalism's sake, documents both the Hispanic and the Anglo contribution to Texas' independence. He does so without giving saccharine descriptions of either group's leadership or their ability to always get alone with one another, either before or after 1836.

And, in the years leading up to the Texas Revolution, he doesn't sidestep the slavery question either.

That honest eye is important, because in the last section of the book, he carries the story of Texas forward through 1865.

Brands writes the "epic" story of these men who fought for Texas independence. He does not write over your head and does not leave the reader uninformed. He does not hold back details about the "mythical" Texas figures who are "larger than life" in most accounts. It is a simple and effective way to learn about the Texas Revolution.

Outstanding book, written with elegance and vigor. If you know the details already you will not find new revelations here, but Lone Star Nation is so well done that even if you aren't especially interested in Texan history, after a couple of chapters you will be. The audiobook, read by Don Leslie, is highly recommended.

`Lone Star Nation' by H.W. Brands promises the epic story of the battle for Texas Independence, but it goes beyond that, by exploring the settlement of Texas, and its reasons for courting independence from Mexico, as well as the reasons behind the ultimate decision of the United States annexing Texas as its 28th state of the union.

Settlement of Texas began with Moses Austin and his son Stephen, who fulfilled a deathbed promise to his father by going forward with the establishment of San Felipe on the Brazos in 1821, Not only did Austin have to entice settlers to come to his colony, Austin also had to cope with too much success in that area. Numerous squatters and illegal immigrants can attest to that.

One way to understand the desire for Texas to break free from Mexico is to understand the Mexican political arena during the life of the colony; another is to explore Mexico's failure to properly govern people weaned under the principals, and history, or American democracy. Both stories were offered by Brands, giving the reader a balanced account of the growth of Texas in the 15 years leading to its Declaration of Independence.

The back cover of the book claims that 'Pulitzer Prize finalist H.W. Brands demythologizes Texas' journey to statehood,' but I'm not so sure that he does. Most of the myths have been created by Hollywood in its movies, which pertain mainly to the Alamo, but the book does not seem to address these myths. He tells us Joe is a slave of Travis, while in the movies he belongs to Bowie. The 1960 movie directed - and starring - John Wayne presents a scene where Travis draws a line in the sand, and everyone steps over to show solidarity in defending the Alamo. This scene isn't mentioned at all in the book. Nor did he mention the three-day cease fire when Santa Anna gave Tejanos a chance to leave the Alamo. A person looking for answers to these, and other details about the Alamo, will have to look beyond this book.

While it may not be sufficient for academics and researchers, 'Lone Star Nation' is a wonderful companion to anyone wishing to visit the Alamo, or San Jacinto. Even students of U.S. History will find 'Lone Star Nation beyond the scope of most textbooks, and they'll probably find it more fun to read.

Both of my teenagers enjoyed reading this book as part of their high school course in Texas History, saying that it easily kept their attention and was filled with relevant information presented in an entertaining way. They liked it so much that my husband and I decided to read it!

This was a very good book to read on Texas history. It is a well researched book and non-biased towards Texas or Mexico. I believe it should be a MUST read for all Texans or anyone else interested in the founding of The State Of Texas. This book will leave you wanting to know more about Stephen F. Austin,Sam Houston,Wm B.Travis,James Bowie,David Crockett, Alamo, Andrew Jackson, Goliad ect,ect. At least I did!!

I would like to highly recommend "Lone Star Nation" by H.W Brands. Brands packs a ton of detail into a large book and writes it so it is very easy to read. I must say that this was one of the books that kept you on the edge of your seat and you didn't want to stop reading. Brands explains very well the situation in Texas and how it developed and then peaked with the arrival of Santa Anna. Anyone interested in American history would like this book. It is a must read.

This book starts, progresses, and concludes with strength of insight, depth, and well structured analysis of key historical figures. It was an interesting read.

It was impressive because it helps you develop an understanding the perspective of early colonists, American colonists, and independent Mexico in the early 19th century. The Alamo was only a small part of a much larger story, the history of the figures differs from popular myth. I strongly recommend it.